title: Expanding shared governance beyond practice issues.
abstract: Expanding shared governance beyond practice issues reaps positive outcomes such as quality staff leadership, enhanced communication to all nursing staff and increased high-level decision making beyond practice issues. Decisions may take slightly longer than with one council, as the cycle-time through multiple councils is greater, but recommendations are made with greater staff input and have a greater opportunity for success. Because of current changes in skill-mix and patient-focused care systems, involving staff in management, education, and quality issues as well as practice ones helps staff to successfully implement new delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Akron General Medical Center, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joiner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wessman
mesh_terms: D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D006754:Hospital Restructuring / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011367:Professional Staff Committees / Q000458:organization & administration*